If approved, this measure would:
★ Block the City of Menlo Park’s plan to create affordable homes downtown
★ Block much-needed improvements to downtown parking
★ Require a citywide election for any future improvements to downtown parking lots
Menlo Park is one of the most expensive communities in the country. Teachers, caregivers, firefighters, city staff, and emergency responders struggle to afford housing locally. Every day, it gets harder to afford a home. The next generation deserves the chance to stay in the communities they grew up in.
In nearby communities, adding housing downtown has increased foot traffic and strengthened local businesses. The City of Menlo Park plans to replace surface lots with modern garages, improve bike and pedestrian access, and add affordable homes above to make downtown more accessible for families, seniors, and people with disabilities. This initiative would block these plans.
Help Us Stop the Initiative!
The proposed measure would also:
★ Interfere with the City’s decision-making process related to City-owned downtown parking lot properties – including selling, leasing, authorizing housing, or constructing improvements.
★ Require Menlo Park taxpayers to foot the bill to defend the initiative, no matter the merits of the case, including endless appeals.
★ Risk losing local control of our own land use decisions by eliminating the only site in the city’s plan for affordable homes that is located within walking distance to transit, in the high performing school district, and available for development in the next five years.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is the Menlo Park Anti-Housing Initiative?
A: The Menlo Park Anti-Housing Initiative prohibits the City of Menlo Park from making changes to City-owned downtown parking lot properties including selling, leasing, authorizing housing development, or constructing improvements.
Q: What is the City of Menlo Park planning to do with surface lots in downtown Menlo Park?
A: The City of Menlo Park plans to replace surface lots with modern garages, improve bike and pedestrian access, and add affordable homes above to make downtown more accessible for families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Q: Will adding housing be good for local businesses in downtown Menlo Park?
A: In nearby communities, adding housing downtown has increased foot traffic and strengthened local businesses.
Q: What does this mean for housing?
A: The initiative will permanently block new affordable homes at the only city-owned land that is located within walking distance to transit, parks, shops, in a high performing school district, and available for development.
Q: Will this initiative cost taxpayers?
A: If passed, the initiative will conflict with state law and require Menlo Park taxpayers to foot the bill to defend the initiative, including endless appeals in court no matter the merits of the case.
Q: What if the City wants to make future improvements to downtown parking lots?
A: This measure would mandate a citywide vote for any future improvements and would block essential upgrades to downtown parking in Menlo Park.
Q: Is there another site to build affordable homes downtown?
A: No. If the initiative passes, we risk losing local control of our own land use decisions by eliminating the only site in the city’s plan for affordable homes that is located within walking distance to transit, in the high performing school district, and available for development in the next five years.
Q: How can I learn more or share feedback?
A: Please see the emails below!
To Learn More or Get Involved
Evelyn Stivers
Executive Director, HLC
estivers@hlcsmc.org
Karen Grove
Co-founder, Menlo Together
karenfgrove@gmail.com